Indiana Deed Records
Indiana deed records are public documents that track property ownership across all 92 counties in the state. Each county has an elected Recorder who files, indexes, and preserves these records for the public. Deed records in Indiana include warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, transfer on death deeds, mortgages, easements, and liens. You can search them online through county and third-party portals, by mail, or in person at any county recorder's office. This guide explains where to find deed records, how to search them, and what to expect from Indiana's county recording system.
Indiana Deed Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Indiana Deed Records
Deed records in Indiana are kept at the county level. Each of the 92 counties has a County Recorder who is elected by the voters in that county. Under IC 36-2-11, the Recorder is responsible for accepting, indexing, and preserving all recorded instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and related documents. Indiana Recorders have kept these records for over 200 years, building one of the most complete property chains of title in the Midwest. The Indiana Recorders Association represents all 92 county recorders and works to set standards across the state.
The office of County Recorder was one of the first positions created when the Indiana Constitution was adopted in 1816. Since then, every property deed that must be recorded by law has gone through the county recorder where the land sits. You file a deed in the county where the property is located, not where you live. If you buy land in Bartholomew County but live in Indianapolis, the deed is recorded with the Bartholomew County Recorder. This rule applies to all 92 counties without exception, and it determines where you go to search deed records as well.
The Indiana State Land Office is a separate resource operated by the Department of Administration. It holds records for land previously or currently owned by the State of Indiana, not private property. Established in 1887, the Land Office maintains over 7,500 deeds and overview maps for the roughly 425,000 acres the state owns, which is about 1.8 percent of Indiana's total acreage. It is open by appointment only at 402 West Washington Street in Indianapolis. For private property deed records in Indiana, your starting point is always the County Recorder.
How to Search Indiana Deed Records Online
Several online systems give you access to Indiana deed records from home. The most widely used third-party platform is Doxpop, which serves many Indiana counties and offers both subscription and pay-per-search options. Many counties have integrated their document images directly into Doxpop, with records going back decades in some cases. You can search by grantor name, grantee name, parcel number, or document type depending on the county. Some counties offer free Doxpop Property Watch alerts so you get notified when new documents are filed on a parcel you own.
Fidlar Technologies provides two platforms that are widely used across Indiana for deed record searches. Laredo is the subscription-based platform used by title professionals and attorneys who search records every day. Tapestry is the public pay-per-search version, available at around $8.75 per search in counties like Dubois and DeKalb. Both platforms pull from the same document index, so the choice usually comes down to how often you search. Visit tapestry.fidlar.com to find which Indiana counties are available and search records on a pay-as-you-go basis. For property tax assessments, Beacon by Schneider Corp covers many Indiana counties and links parcel data with assessment records.
The Indiana State Land Office at in.gov also has an interactive map and database for state-owned property deeds. This system is managed through GIS and is useful when a parcel you are researching was once state land or borders state property in Indiana.
The screenshot below shows the Indiana State Land Office portal, where state-owned property deeds and maps are searchable. For private property deed records, use the county recorder portals or the third-party systems described above.
The Indiana State Land Office portal links directly to state property deeds maintained by the Department of Administration. Visit in.gov/idoa to access the full state property database and interactive map.
Types of Deed Records in Indiana
Indiana county recorders accept and preserve many different types of documents. The warranty deed is the most common. It transfers full ownership from one party to another and includes the grantor's promise that the title is clear. A quitclaim deed transfers only whatever interest the grantor holds, with no guarantee of clear title. Both types must include the grantor name, grantee name, legal description of the property, and the grantee's physical address under IC 32-21-2-3. A PO box is not acceptable as the grantee address in Indiana. The address is where the county will send tax statements going forward.
The Transfer on Death Deed, authorized under IC 32-17-14-1, lets a property owner name a beneficiary who receives the real estate at the owner's death without going through probate. The deed must be signed, acknowledged or notarized, and include the prepared-by statement and Social Security number redaction statement. It is recorded with the county recorder during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. This is a useful tool for estate planning in Indiana and has grown in use since the state adopted the statute.
Easements are another type of document recorded with the county recorder in Indiana. Under IC 32-23-1-4, an easement grants one party a right to use another's land for a specific purpose, such as access or utility lines. The easement document must cross-reference the last recorded deed or plat for the property. Mortgages, mechanics liens, and UCC financing statements are also recorded at the county level and become part of the property's title chain in Indiana.
The official Indiana Recording Manual from the Indiana Recorders Association contains a full list of accepted document types along with the specific requirements for each one.
Indiana Deed Recording Fees
As of July 1, 2017, Indiana recording fees are no longer based on page count for standard documents. Most counties charge a flat fee of $25 to record a deed or most other instruments. Mortgages cost $55 to record. Marion County charges slightly more due to its larger volume of transactions, with deeds at $35 and mortgages at $65. These fees apply statewide unless the county has been granted a specific exception. Multi-transaction documents are charged $7 for each additional transaction beyond the first in most counties.
Large-format documents such as surveys and plats that exceed 8.5 by 14 inches cost $5.00 per page in addition to the base fee. Copies of recorded documents up to 11 by 17 inches cost $1.00 per page, and larger copies cost $5.00 per page. Certification of a document is $5.00. UCC financing statements cost $25.00 in most counties, or $35.00 in Marion County following an Indiana Attorney General opinion that took effect January 1, 2021.
The Indiana State Board of Accounts oversees training requirements and internal standards for county recorders across Indiana. The State Board also publishes guidelines that help recorders apply fee schedules consistently.
The screenshot below shows the Indiana Gateway for Government Units, which provides financial data for all Indiana counties including recorder offices.
The Indiana Gateway at gateway.ifionline.org tracks financial reports and budgets for all Indiana government units, including county recorder offices. It is a useful reference for understanding how recording fees are managed across Indiana's 92 counties.
Indiana Deed Recording Requirements
All documents recorded in Indiana must meet specific format requirements under IC 36-2-11-16.5. Paper must be white and at least 20-lb weight. The document cannot exceed 8.5 by 14 inches. Type must be 10-point or larger. The first and last pages need 2-inch margins at the top and bottom to leave room for the auditor's and recorder's stamps. Interior pages need at least one-half inch margins. Documents that fail to meet these standards may be returned or charged a $1.00 penalty per non-conforming page.
Under IC 36-2-11-15, every document executed or acknowledged in Indiana must carry two statements. First, the preparer must include: "This instrument is prepared by [printed name of individual]." Second, the document must include the Social Security number redaction affirmation: "I affirm, under the penalties for perjury, that I have taken reasonable care to redact each Social Security number in this document, unless required by law." Under IC 36-2-7.5-4, documents containing a Social Security number cannot be submitted for recording unless a specific legal exemption applies. DD-214 military discharge records and federal tax liens are among the exemptions.
Names must appear identically throughout the body of the document, in the acknowledgment, in the signature, and printed beneath the signature. Per IC 36-2-11-14, deeds that transfer ownership for tax purposes must carry the county auditor's stamp before the recorder will accept them. The auditor stamps the document with "duly entered for taxation" or a similar phrase confirming the transfer has been reported for tax purposes. Without this stamp, a conveyance deed will not be accepted for recording in Indiana.
Notarization is required for most recorded documents. Per IC 33-42-10-2, notary seals issued after July 1, 2018 must include the notary's name as it appears on the commission, the 7-digit commission number, the expiration date, the county of residence, and the date of notarization. A seal or stamp is required. As of July 1, 2008, Indiana recorders must accept copies of documents, but the preparer must stamp "copy" prominently on all pages that are not originals.
Note: Documents are often rejected for missing the 2-inch first-page margin, small or unclear text, or paper that will not go through a scanner cleanly.
E-Recording Indiana Deed Records
Many Indiana counties now accept electronic recording of deed documents. E-recording lets title companies, law firms, and banks submit documents digitally without mailing physical paper. The four main e-recording vendors operating in Indiana are Simplifile (800-460-5657), CSC eRecording at erecording.com (866-652-0111), eRecording Partners Network at 888-325-3365, and Indecomm at 877-272-5250. Each vendor connects to participating county recorders, and fees vary by vendor and document type.
Not every county accepts every document type by e-recording. For example, Wabash County accepts mortgages and releases by e-recording but not transfer documents. Parke County offers same-day e-file. Lawrence County began accepting e-recording in August 2023. Check with the specific county recorder before submitting to confirm they accept your document type through your chosen vendor in Indiana.
Browse Indiana Deed Records by County
Each of Indiana's 92 counties has a County Recorder who keeps deed records for property within that county. Pick a county below to find contact information, online search portals, recording fees, and other local resources for deed records in that area.
Indiana Deed Records by City
Deed records are maintained at the county recorder's office, not by city governments. Pick a city below to find the county recorder's office that handles deed records for that area, along with local property search portals and resources.